Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry selected Noetra as the partner to develop a domestic AI foundation model [1].
The initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology by creating a data infrastructure tailored to Japan's strengths in robotics and industrial automation. By integrating AI with physical machinery, the government intends to enhance the global competitiveness of domestic industries [1].
Noetra is a new company established through a joint venture between SoftBank, NEC, Sony Group, and Honda [1]. The project will focus on creating AI models capable of autonomous control in factories and the operation of AI-driven robots [1].
The project is scheduled to span five years, beginning in the 2026 fiscal year [1]. The budget for the first year of the initiative is 387.3 billion yen [1].
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa said, "We will construct and grow a digital AI and robot data infrastructure that can leverage our country's strengths, ahead of the rest of the world" [1].
This public procurement process was managed by the Ministry and the National Innovation Foundation, known as NEDO [1]. The collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between generative AI software and physical hardware application, a sector where Japanese manufacturing has traditionally led.
“The budget for the first year of the initiative is 387.3 billion yen”
This investment signals a strategic shift toward 'embodied AI,' where the focus moves from large language models to AI that can interact with and control physical environments. By consolidating the resources of four industrial giants, Japan is attempting to create a vertically integrated ecosystem that prevents the domestic manufacturing sector from becoming dependent on proprietary AI stacks from the U.S. or China.
